Sarasota (APA 204) - Naval Cruise Book

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MUREHEAD CITY On 6 May 1954 the first Battalion 6th Marines farked for a six month cruise. The loading Llled for an all hands evolution, and was coin- leted by mid afternoon. Trucks were fitted .nto spots that had seemed too srnallg and 'roops were taken aboard with the greeting of 'Take a good look, this is your home for the next 5 months. On the 7th we cast oil. and took one last look at good old US.,-X. with mixed emotions we turned our thoughts to the months that lay aheadg some with anticipation, some with regret, and some with curiosity. Okay, get the lead out. Hup, two, three! Straighten up the lines! You guys look like a bunch ot BAMS. -L- V15 1 R gf N1 rw 'x- three yards 'from the pier. Where are we going to put all ot that stuff? What did you say the capacity ot this ship is? Any one got a toothpick? 'f ' in I Operation Seasick, and only

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F6 ww., - . A 594 ,ffl Vfwmi. ff 4 1? 1 y. , .W ,gh W A V fm Q 4 A : 'V 1013 i I ,,! .W , A.,, L5-,' , , I 1.1, ,paw WZ afwyfwif Wo, , ,WV .wpwyx fl 'Z , ,, A 4 . as ff ' 'g f sf X ' , l ' 'L+-.., . I Z .s fi Q A A, 1 . , I Wfiqy A it mg 7 Mx- 4 'X 1 ff ' J A 'U in 'P K xp, .f ' ns, X ,W :YW ' ' ' fi W ' - Sa 4 as ,A 4. , 'f 1 - ,J X T K , X X I atb, H ,f it f I 1 V . 4 ,..-1,1 ' A tug pushed the bow of the Marquette out in the stream. We lcnew that we were next and our Med cruise would begin. At Norfolk, Virginia, preparations were made for our Mediterranean cruise. Days were' spent load- NORFOLK Three as we X X X x X X .X ing provisions and placing the ship in readiness for the long voyage ahead. Reliefs were sent aboard to fill necessary complements and some swaps were made by those unwilling to make the cruise. Brief leaves were granted for last minute visits with families and friends, preparations were made Desfroyers bid us a bon voyage slowly made our way ou+ fo sea. .xx X X li g Q. X -S S for a 5 months absence. and on 3 May we departed. X X 3, ii -Q ril . .' x it t ifi A l, K sr, K Q gf!! ix? ' .F i. .gg 4532? it ii '1 i 2-ffg m ffif 'i ' I' ff, . qv . .,xf,-,f- -- ,, was U. . N-,Q-nsqrf will! . ' I ff , , ti ff ll fregspks f 'xr , X Q, A L b ,,f, '12 e 1,2122 X u Q f ,V fi P . .- - , , , , . - - ..m.,,,... .,,,, ,Ln...w. . , V , fs, W , iff 4 sf ,. 'Q ,X ,xv ,f by 5 K tu .,, I v l -fix. Ria- 5 V in YZ K 'fi Z. v x -1. . . iw ' . K V! yn ,f'k . . e ..i. ' sr i? i

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X ff sf an Q Three Navy men try iemporary clufy on board one of these, it is always way. l 'M i s issfi My-215 ,mm s . 1 X -15' N3 . le 1 7 .9 - 4 M' aff? - ' 'i on ships of the desert. When independent ,Wwe , t AW steaming all the A mx, V s4,Xtsy,, 64 X ' f vx QSWAXX fsw gf fe at thx, my f fx -4,f.., , V -as wwf. rw ,a ,.,.X,x, , ,. ,rw ., . . . s , S fe? New W-ww zsfQ2,,xa.::f'NPvs , . r S we mf- Qey Q , .X as , ,Wt . as .59 f as X, we-V af, s t. . fx s f ww Sli. ii- ssh K 35 X 'S x . X Q X sr we .,' bmw? X l -if Q . . s f X .l ,.. 1 f ..,s , xi tt The background may be modern, but two ,P L X Moslem women still carry oul' 'their ancient .- s. swiss sk it Cusioms. mr - 4 . rxx. . A i f ...X Q x if ss- A N- seas A mosque al' Bou Saada. Tracle your iumpei-5' boys? 4 1 lllll AL x ,X s'he!X ,.- N X , K ips? ' , 0 After two days at sea, a tragedy struck one of our men. The wife and Child of Vernon Sholar Mill had been killed in an auto accident on their way home from Norfolk. He was rushed home to attend the final rites. through the ser- vices of the Coast Guard. Two days later. HMC E. VV. Carseallen, who had never before had any sea duty, in his 18 years in the Navy. suddenly found himself on the oper- ating table. having his appendix removed. The rest of the trip was quiet. and early one morning we saw the Rock of flihrziltar through the heavy mist. Wie were there and the if our . I , tliouglits of lilierty in a foreign port loomed ll.: minds as a promise of relief from days nt sea.